Vanity case



Feb. 16, 1932. w. F. SHELGREN 1,845,938

VANITY CASE Filed April 10, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 16, 1932. w. F. SHELGV'EREN 1,345,938

VANITY CAItSE Filed April 10, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 16, 1932. w. F. SHELGREN VANITY CASE Filed April 10, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 J W JIIIIIJJJJJ Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES WALTER F. SHELGREN, OF BRADFORD, PENNSYLVANIA VANITY CASE Application filed April 10,

acter which has novel features of construction resulting in improvements in loose powder cases, these improvements residing in the fact that the loose powder chamber is provided with a movable closure which actuates a powder conveying means, during its opening and closing movements, to convey powder from the reservoir or powder chamber and for returning said conveying means to the powder chamber during its closing movement.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a rouge container which is movably mounted so as to close a refilling opening for the powder chamber.

A further feature of the invention resides in a provision of a floating agitator in the powder chamber and freely movable under the powder conveyor for preventing the loose powder from caking or lodging in the corners of the chamber, and which is of a type and construction to throw the powder up,

upon the powder conveyor, during the handling of the vanity case, especially when the powder contents in the chamber are low.

Other objects and features of the invention will. appear in the following detailed description setting forth the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings which show the embodiments of the invention, as at present devised, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the vanity case, having its top lid open and constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lower or body portion of the case as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the vanity case illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 3:

Figure 5 is a fragment-a1 longitudinal sectional view of the dispensing means;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 66 of Figure 5;

1930. Serial No. 443,197.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing a modified form of the same;

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a modified construction of the partition 14;

Figure 9 is a plan view of a modified construction of a vanity case; and

Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on line 1010 of Figure 9.

The invention is shown in connection with a rectangular case or container; however, it is to be understood that the invention is applicable to various types of containers and is susceptible to various modifications in order to adapt it to varying designs of containers or cases.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 denotes a case of box-like construction having a top 11 which may be hinged thereto or mounted in any suitable manner for closing the case 10, a releasable latch member 12 being provided to hold the parts in closed relation. The top may be of any design other than shown. For convenience, a mirror 13 is provided on the under side of the cover, but this is not necessary.

The case 10 has a partition 14 extending across its opening and positioned slightly be low the opening. This partition 14 can be provided in any suitable manner, but for the purpose of the present disclosure is shown as a frame removably fitted into the box 10. This frame consists of side walls a which tightly engage against the side walls of the box, and the partition 1 1 is positioned between these side Walls and secured thereto by rivets, solder or the like. In some instances it may be found desirable to construct the frame from one piece of material by a stamping operation see Figure 8.

The partition 14 is cut away at one end thereof to form an opening 15 extending sub stantially transversely of the partition and longitudinally of the partition for a desirable distance, in the present instance it being shown approximately one half the length of the partition. Immediately below this open ing is provided a plate 16 around which a. powder conveyor 17 may pass. This plate 16 may be provided by forming two parallel till ' 25 lies within the depression 19 and flush slits at the points X in the partition 14 and depressing the material between the slits downwardly, the depression forming the opening 15 (see Fig. 8), or it may be formed from a separate piece of material and secured to the side walls a of the frame in any suitable manner.

The side walls a of the frame are constructed to cooperate with the side walls Z) of the box 10 in such a manner as to maintain the partition 15 substantially spaced from the bottom of the case 10 to provide a powder chamber 18 of substantial area, and to pre vent leakage of the powder therebetween.

The powder chamber 18 may be filled through" an openingprovided in the partition 14, and to this end the partition 14 is depressed, as at 19, and formed with an opening 20 in thebottom of the depressed portion. This opening 20 isclosed by a cap 21 having an upwardly diverging side flange around its edge, which flange frictionally binds against the edge of the opening. This cap 21 also forms on its upper surface by reason of its construction a tray, 23 to contain rouge or other cosmetic material, and it may be hinged at 22 along one end edge of the partition plate 14. The tray 23 may be closed by a cover plate 25 which for convenience maybe hinged on the same spindle or pin as the cap 21. The depression 19 is suihciently deep to accommodate the thickness of, the tray 23 aswell as permit a small pufl or applicator 2% to be retained between the tray 23 andv thecover plate 25, it being observed that the cover plate with the body of the partition 14. A further depression 26 is provided to enable the insertion of the fingernail, or other instrument under theflange 27 of the tray 23 so that it may be raised to uncover the opening 20 to allow the powder chamber 18 to be refilled.

The opening 15 is normally covered by a sliding closure 28 mounted in guide-ways which may be provided, but not necessarily, on the frame side walls (4. These guide-ways permit a reciprocable shifting movement of thecover 28 to open or close the powder dispensing opening 15. This sliding closure 28 is connected with the flexible powder conveyor 17 so that when the closure is moved to the left (as shown in the drawings) the powder opening 15 will be uncovered thereby and the powder conveyor 17 will be moved from the under surface of the plate 16 around one edge thereof to the top surface of the plate 16, and thereby presents a quantity ofv powder which may be taken up by an applicator. a I

The conveyor 17 preferably comprises a flexible strip of nap material, such as velvet, wool or the like, of a length slightly longer than the opening 15. One end of this strip 17 has thin strips of tape, cord or wire connecting it to the closure 28and around the plate 16 as shown in Figures 5 and 6, in order that the conveyor strip may be returned into the powder chamber 18, when the closure 28 is closed.

In Figure 7 is shown a construction whereby the nap material 17 is connected at its one end to a roll of thin material 31 which is wound on a spring roller 32, the other end of the nap material being secured by a rivet 33 or other suitable means to one end of the sliding cover 28. One end of the sliding cover 28 is folded upon itself to provide an open loop 35 in which may be inserted the powder applicator or puff, the folded over portion 27 acting as a spring clip for holding the applicator in position within the vanity case.

The powder within the powder chamber 18 contacts with the conveyor 17 during the ordinary handling of the vanity case which is suilicient to insure a desired quantity of powder adhering to the nap surface of the conveyor so that it will be delivered to the opening 15 when the sliding closure 28 is shifted to uncover the dispensing opening 15.

To more effectively insure a supply of powder tothe conveyor and to prevent the powder from caking or becoming lodged in the corners of the chamber, a floating agitator is disposed within the powder chamber and will be moved or shifted therein as a result of ordinary handling of the vanity case. This agitator 34 is preferably in the form of a slug and may be of any desired shape or construction but, it is preferred to have the slug in the form of a flat angular piece of metal of a length and width which is greater than the depth of the powder chamber 18 so that it will not turn over in the powder chamber. The slug is freely movable beneath the conveyor 17 and throughout the area of the chamber and has its upper edges beveled asat 35, which beveled edges serve as a scraper and to throw a spray of powder onto the conveyor 17 when in its normal position on the under side of the plate 16,'when the agitator is moved or shifted.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig ures 9 and 10, the vanity case'consists merely of a powder container 10 having a lid 11,

the powder container being covered by a powder retainer plate 1%, having a plurality of openings, preferably but not necessarilyv in ably-dished and formed at its marginal edge portions-with a ridge 15 which tend to give the side-flanges 14 resiliency to bind against the side walls of the container 10*. A puff X may be removably mounted on the concave surface of the retainer to receive the powder l let till

which passes through the slots 15 of the retainer plate during the ordinary handling of the vanity case.

In order to facilitate the passage of the powder through the slots 15* a slug 34 is provided in the powder chamber between the retainer plate and the bottom of the container 10. The slug 34 is the same in all respects as the slug 34 above described.

Instead of the spring roller shown in Figure 7, a strip of rubber elastic or other elastic material such as a coil spring may be employed for returning the conveyor 17 to its normal position on the under side of the partition plate 14.

This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application, Ser. No. 251,- 601 (Patent No. 1,757,946).

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and upon which it is desired to secure Letters Patent, is:

1. A powder case of the kind described comprising a container having a powder chamher, a powder retainer for said chamber having an opening therein through which powder is dispensed, a closure for said opening, and a flexible powder conveyor member connected to said closure and having a powder carrying portion shiftable into and from said chamber and before said opening, with the opening and closing movements of said closure.

2. A powder case of the kind described c01nprising a container having a powder chamher, a powder retainer for said chamber having a powder dispensing opening therein and a slidable closure for said opening, a shiftable belt powder conveyor having a powder conveying portion normally within said powder chamber and movable exteriorly thereof before said opening, said conveyor being con nected with said closure to be moved into and out of said chamber with the opening and closing movements respectively of the closure, said conveyor moving from said openingto normal position when said closure is moved to closing position.

3. A powder case of the kind described comprising a container having a powder chamher, a powder retainer for said chamber having a powder dispensing opening therein and a slidable closure for said opening. a shiftable belt powder conveyor having a powder carrying portion normally within said powder chamber and movable exteriorly thereof before said opening, said conveyor being COIlnected with said closure to be moved into said chamber with the opening movement of the closure, and means for returning said powder conveyor to normal position when said closure is moved to closed position.

4. A powder case of the kind described comprising a container having a powder chamber and a powder retaining member for the chamber, said retaining member having a dispensing opening therein and a powder refilling opening therein, and a tray for containing other materials disposed within said powder refilling opening in the retaining member for closing the same, and a closure having a rectilinear movement to one of two positions to uncover said dispensing opening and cover said tray alternatively, and conversely.

5. A powder case of the kind described comprising a container for the powder chamber, a powder retaining member for the chamber having a powder dispensing opening therein and a powder refilling opening therein, a tray-like member disposed in said refilling opening and forming a closure therefor, a slidable plate of a size to cover said dispensing opening to close the same and reciprocable back and forth to uncover said dispensing opening and to overlie said tray and conversely, and guide-ways in which the plate is slidably mounted.

6. A powdercasc of the kind described comprising a container for a powder chamber, a powder retaining member for the chamber having a powder dispensing opening therein and a depressed portion having an opening in the bottom thereof to form a. powder refilling opening, a tray-like member disposed in said depression and hinged to one edge of said refilling opening to open and close said refilling opening.

7. A powder case of the kind described comprising a container for a powder chamher, a powder retaining member for the chamber having a powder dispensing opening therein and a depressed portion having an opening in the bottom thereof to form a powder refilling opening, a tray-like member disposed wholly within said depression and adapted to extend into said powder refilling opening and to bind against the edges of said opening, whereby said tray forms a closure for said powder refilling opening said tray being hinged to one edge of said opening, and a lid for covering said depression and hinged on the hinging means of said tray.

8. A powder case of the kind described comprising a container having a powder chamber a powder retainer for said chamher having an opening therein through which powder is dispensed, a movable closure for said opening, and a powder conveyor having a powder carrying portion normally in said chamber and shiftable therefrom to the exterior of said retainer to dispense powder through said opening, and means foroperating said conveyor member with the opening and closing movements of said closure. a

9. A powder case of the kind described comprising a container having a powder chamber, a powder retainer for said chamber having a powder dispensing opening therein a movable closure for said opening,

a fiat support before said opening, a shiftable powder conveyor having a powder carrying portion normally within said powder chamber and movable over said support, a connection between said closure and conveyor, whereby the conveyor is moved over said support into said opening with the opening movement of the closure, said conveyor moving from said opening to normal position when said closure is moved to closing position.

10. A powder case of the kind described comprising a container having a powder chamber, a powder retainer for said chamber having a powder dispensing opening therein and a movable closure for said opening, a flat plate member at said opening, a shiftable powder conveyor movable around the surfaces of said plate member and connected with said closure to be moved about said plate with the opening movement of the closure, said powder conveyor being mova ble to normal position whensaid closure is 12. A powder case of the kind described comprising acontainer having a powder chamber. a powder conveyor mounted and arranged to move in and out of said chamber and being capable of carrying powder from the chamber to a point where it may be removed from the conveyor, a closure for said chamber exposing said conveyor when opened, and a connection between said conveyor and closure whereby said conveyor is shifted to present a quantity of powder when the closure is moved to open position, and means for returning said conveyor to normal. position when said closure is moved to closed position.

13. A powder case of the kind described comprising a container having a powder chamber, a closure for the chamber including a substantially flat plate portion and having its inner face spaced a substantial distance from the bottom' of the chamber, a conveyor shiftable around the flat portion of the closure with the reaches thereof lying parallel and adjacent the opposite faces of said plate, respectively, w iereby said conveyor is maintained spaced fromthe bottom of the chamber for providing a substantial powdercontaining space thereunder, and an agitator der, and a freely shiftable agitator in said chamber and disposed below said conveyor.

15. A powder case of the kind described comprising a substantially closed powder reservoir, and: a floatingagitator within said reservoir comprising a flat member having scraping edges.

16. A powder case of thekind described comprising a powder reservoir, a floating agitator within said reservoir comprising a flat member of length and width greater than the depth of sald reservoir and having scrap ing edges, and a powder dispenser spaced shiftable agitator within said reservoir, and

a powder carrier spaced from the bottom of said reservoir and having a portion thereof movableinto and out of said reservoir.

18. A powder case of the kind describedcomprising a powder chamber, a powder retainer for said powder chamber and having a powder dispensing means thereon, said retainer being spaced from the bottom of said chamber to provide a powder containing space of substantial depth therebetween, and

an agitator within said chamber and freely shiftable therein under said dispensing means.

19. A powder case of the kind described comprising a powder chamber, apowder retainer for said powder chamber and having a powder dispensing means thereon, said retainer being spaced from the bottom of said chamber to provide a powder containing space of substantial depth therebetween, and an agitator within said chamber and freely shiftable therein under said dispensing means, said agitator being a substantially flat angular member having scraping edges. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WVALTER F. SHELGREN. 

